For release: November 28, 2012
For press information, contact Curt Guenther, 901-678-2843

Dr. Richard Sweigard

Dr. Richard Sweigard has been selected as the new dean of the Herff College of Engineering at the University of Memphis. He will begin these duties June 1, 2013. 

Sweigard has been the associate dean of engineering for administration and academic affairs at the University of Kentucky since 2007, where he has also been an associate professor or professor since 1988. He served as chair of the Department of Mining Engineering at UK for 14 years. He has also held teaching positions at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and The Pennsylvania State University.

“Dr. Sweigard has implemented successful scholarship and recruitment programs at the University of Kentucky,” said U of M President Shirley Raines. “We know he will build upon our College of Engineering’s strengths in education and research, as we work to increase both the number of degrees awarded and external research support for the College. His record of accomplishment and his outstanding personal skills will enable him to work with students, faculty, staff and the community to accomplish these goals in an effective and collaborative way.”

Raines added that Sweigard will assume leadership of a U of M college that is in excellent academic standing thanks to the faculty and Dr. Eugene Eckstein, interim dean, as well as former dean, Dr. Richard Warder, who retired last summer.

A native of Dover, Pa., Sweigard holds a B.S. degree in civil engineering from Drexel University, an M.A. degree in geology from The Pennsylvania State University, and a Ph.D. degree in mining engineering, also from Penn State.